A usable free proxy server for Windows users (emphasis on usable!)
 

Q: What is a *usable* free proxy site that you *know* is usable?
(Emphasis on the two highlighted words above: You know it's usable.)

Aside from marketing tricks to get you to purchase something, and aside
from Tor/Opera (neither of which is a "proxy" per se) ... please respond
only if you happen to *use* the proxy you recommend, where I ask...

Q: What is a usable free proxy site that you *know* is usable?

HINT: You know there's a problem with too much data (most of which is
useless in the end) when there is no "top 5" or "top 10" but where the
number starts at the "top 110 free proxy servers".

Mosts are mere useless lists, just like the "free open nntp servers" lists
are.

So this question has the emphasis on two factors:
You (a) *know* that this proxy server is (b) *usable*.

Thanks (in advance) for helping everyone with your response!

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Before you tell me it's easy to find a good one, you should see what a
search reveals - they are just lists of lists - where nobody has the time
to test them out - so I only ask someone who *already* has a good *usable*
free proxy server to recommend.

http://www.idcloak.com/proxylist/fre...vers-list.html
https://www.proxynova.com/proxy-server-list/country-us/
https://nordvpn.com/free-proxy-list/
http://www.publicproxyservers.com
http://www.proxy4free.com/list/webproxy1.html
https://www.alltechbuzz.net/top-best...-servers-2016/
http://www.proxy4free.com

A usable free proxy server for Windows users (emphasis onusable!)
 

On 23/12/2017 11:47 PM, Chaya Eve wrote:
Q: What is a *usable* free proxy site that you *know* is usable?
(Emphasis on the two highlighted words above: You know it's usable.)
...

Careful! A proxy server is a man in the middle. :)

--
@~@ Remain silent! Drink, Blink, Stretch! Live long and prosper!!
/ v \ Simplicity is Beauty!
/( _ )\ May the Force and farces be with you!
^ ^ (x86_64 Ubuntu 9.10) Linux 2.6.39.3
不借貸! 不詐騙! 不援交! 不打交! 不打劫! 不自殺! 請考慮綜援 (CSSA):
http://www.swd.gov.hk/tc/index/site_...sub_addressesa

A usable free proxy server for Windows users (emphasis on usable!)
 

On Sun, 24 Dec 2017 00:03:32 +0800, "Mr. Man-wai Chang"
wrote:

Careful! A proxy server is a man in the middle. :)

We know what a proxy server is.

Everything is a man in the middle (in some fashion). It just is.
This isn't at all a question of "what" a proxy server is anyway.

It's a question that is akin to the kind of question when someone asks for
a good free public VPN server or a good free public nntp server.

What you often get as answers is *useless* bull****.
1. You often get lists of lists of lists of lists of lists.
2. You often get sales advertisements to "buy" the "real" server.
3. You often get a server that works but it's barely usable.

Free proxy server responses always devolve to one of those three useless
answers. Your answer didn't help either (although you meant well).

I'm not asking anyone to do my research for me - I'm asking for someone who
has *already* done the research to just let us know what free public proxy
service they have found *usable* for them.

Simple question. Needs only a one-line answer:
Q: What is a *usable* free proxy site that you *know* is usable?

A usable free proxy server for Windows users (emphasis onusable!)
 

On 24/12/2017 12:16 AM, Chaya Eve wrote:

Simple question. Needs only a one-line answer:
Q: What is a *usable* free proxy site that you *know* is usable?

My answer is don't use them, don't login with them. :)

--
@~@ Remain silent! Drink, Blink, Stretch! Live long and prosper!!
/ v \ Simplicity is Beauty!
/( _ )\ May the Force and farces be with you!
^ ^ (x86_64 Ubuntu 9.10) Linux 2.6.39.3
不借貸! 不詐騙! 不援交! 不打交! 不打劫! 不自殺! 請考慮綜援 (CSSA):
http://www.swd.gov.hk/tc/index/site_...sub_addressesa

A usable free proxy server for Windows users (emphasis on usable!)
 

On Sat, 23 Dec 2017 15:47:11 +0000 (UTC), Chaya Eve
wrote:

Q: What is a *usable* free proxy site that you *know* is usable?
(Emphasis on the two highlighted words above: You know it's usable.)

I`m using Freedome VPN and Surfeasy (free and paid version included
with Opera) and can recommend them. Freedom VPN seems to be faster on
my Android. But on the Window PC I already have another, private VPN
running (Hamachi) so Freedome VPN was not an option and I chose the
paid version of Surfeasy for Opera as an add-on.

HTH

M.

A usable free proxy server for Windows users (emphasis on usable!)
 

On Sat, 23 Dec 2017 20:59:20 +0100, Michael Logies
wrote:

I`m using Freedome VPN and Surfeasy (free and paid version included
with Opera) and can recommend them.

VPN is completely different from a proxy, so the Freedom VPN isn't going to
answer the question, and I agree that the Opera proxy is usable - but as
stated in the OP - the Opera proxy only works with one browser.

The quest is to find a free proxy that works outside of the Opera browser.

Does anyone know of a usable free proxy that works for all browsers?

A usable free proxy server for Windows users (emphasis on usable!)
 

On Sun, 24 Dec 2017 00:46:16 +0800, "Mr. Man-wai Chang"
wrote:

My answer is don't use them, don't login with them. :)

That's not an answer to the question though. :)

I already use Tor, and I already use VPN, and I already use the Opera
pseudo-vpn which is really just a proxy, where all I'm asking is if anyone
has any experience with a usable free proxy that works with any browser.

Does anyone know of a usable free proxy that works for all browsers?

A usable free proxy server for Windows users (emphasis on usable!)
 

On Sat, 23 Dec 2017 15:47:11 +0000 (UTC), Chaya Eve
wrote:

HINT: You know there's a problem with too much data (most of which is
useless in the end) when there is no "top 5" or "top 10".

I googled for "free web proxy" (with quotation marks):

https://www.lifewire.com/free-anonym...servers-818058
9 Best Free Anonymous Proxy Servers

A usable free proxy server for Windows users (emphasis onusable!)
 

On 24/12/2017 11:52 AM, Chaya Eve wrote:

That's not an answer to the question though. :)

Just don't trust man or machine in the middle, Master! Of course, it's
usually man to build machines.

I already use Tor, and I already use VPN, and I already use the Opera
pseudo-vpn which is really just a proxy, where all I'm asking is if anyone
has any experience with a usable free proxy that works with any browser.

Both Tor and proxy servers are machines in the middle, Master! ;)

Does anyone know of a usable free proxy that works for all browsers?

Forget about them. Turn off your e-gadgets and e-toys, Master! Meow... ;)

--
@~@ Remain silent! Drink, Blink, Stretch! Live long and prosper!!
/ v \ Simplicity is Beauty!
/( _ )\ May the Force and farces be with you!
^ ^ (x86_64 Ubuntu 9.10) Linux 2.6.39.3
不借貸! 不詐騙! 不援交! 不打交! 不打劫! 不自殺! 請考慮綜援 (CSSA):
http://www.swd.gov.hk/tc/index/site_...sub_addressesa

A usable free proxy server for Windows users (emphasis on usable!)
 

He who is Mr. Man-wai Chang said on Sun, 24 Dec 2017 20:31:08 +0800:

That's not an answer to the question though. :)

Just don't trust man or machine in the middle, Master! Of course, it's
usually man to build machines.

The on-topic question is:
Q: What free proxy have you found to be most usable in your experience?

We get your point about man-in-the-middle attacks. We really do.

While you're (probably) meaning well, we all *know* that the man in the
middle attack is in *all* Internet actions. Every single one.

You have to gauge your threat. If you're running from a Mexican drug lord,
or the Mafia, or a Russian criminal organization, or any of a host of state
sponsored adversaries - you're as good as dead on the Internet.

We know that.
You telling us that isn't helpful after your first post.

It's like telling a parent that they're going to have to change diapers
when they have a baby. They know that. Why do you incessantly repeat what
everyone already knows?

It's like I'm asking what vaccines to give a baby and you keep repeating
that I have to change diapers on the baby. You're not being helpful.

The question you clearly don't know the answer to. That's fine.
You clearly know about man-in-the-middle attacks. That's fine.

Now can we please get back to the question?

Q: What free proxy have you found to be most usable in your experience?

I already use Tor, and I already use VPN, and I already use the Opera
pseudo-vpn which is really just a proxy, where all I'm asking is if anyone
has any experience with a usable free proxy that works with any browser.

Both Tor and proxy servers are machines in the middle, Master! ;)

Holy cow. Are you insane? We *know* everything you say.

It's like I ask what's the best diaper for my baby and you tell me that all
babies have to drink milk.

What is wrong with you?
Are you just trying to chalk up your Internet-post record?

The question is:
Q: What free proxy have you found to be most usable in your experience?

Do you really not comprehend that question?

Does anyone know of a usable free proxy that works for all browsers?

Forget about them. Turn off your e-gadgets and e-toys, Master! Meow... ;)

There is something wrong with you in that you're no longer helpful by
telling us what we knew decades ago.

It's like I'm asking what's a good rental car and then repeatedly warn that
cars have tires which can go flat.

If you have no answer to the question below, please do not respond:
Q: What free proxy have you found to be most usable in your experience?

A usable free proxy server for Windows users (emphasis on usable!)
 

On Sun, 24 Dec 2017 08:35:16 +0100, Michael Logies
wrote:

HINT: You know there's a problem with too much data (most of which is
useless in the end) when there is no "top 5" or "top 10".

I googled for "free web proxy" (with quotation marks):

https://www.lifewire.com/free-anonym...servers-818058
9 Best Free Anonymous Proxy Servers

Thanks for that link.

I think I made a mistake in not knowing that I needed to explain that there
are two kinds of proxies, only one of which I'm seeking:
1. The kind which is a web page portal that you manually visit, and,
2. The kind that is set up in the browser for permanent use on all URLs.

I am seeking the second type (i.e., a browser "configuration") proxy) and
not the first type (i.e., a specific single-use web page entry form type of
proxy).

Looking at that link specifically, all seem to not be the type I want.
https://www.lifewire.com/free-anonymous-web-proxy-servers-818058

The article lists the following paste-url-based free proxies:
https://hidester.com/proxy/
https://hide.me/en/proxy
https://www.proxysite.com
http://kproxy.com/
https://www.vpnbook.com/webproxy
https://zend2.com
https://whoer.net/webproxy
https://www.megaproxy.com/freesurf/
http://anonymouse.org/anonwww.html

So I realize now that my question wasn't specific enough in that what I'm
seeking is a proxy setup and not a proxy form.

The setup would mean that, for that specific browser, *all* URLs would go
through the proxy (much like how Tor Browser Bundle works for all URLs but
without the onion routing and most like how the Opera VPN-proxy works for
all URLs).

A usable free proxy server for Windows users (emphasis onusable!)
 

Chaya Eve wrote:

Now can we please get back to the question?

Maybe the question should be "why do you expect a free, usable web proxy
to be available?"

For every person willing to open a proxy there must be thousands such as
yourself looking to eat up the bandwidth and power of the proxy server,
or put it on a list so that others can do the same.

[OT] Beware of man or machine in the middle
 

On 24/12/2017 11:03 PM, Chaya Eve wrote:
....
The on-topic question is:
Q: What free proxy have you found to be most usable in your experience?

We get your point about man-in-the-middle attacks. We really do.

While you're (probably) meaning well, we all *know* that the man in the
middle attack is in *all* Internet actions. Every single one.

You have to gauge your threat. If you're running from a Mexican drug lord,
or the Mafia, or a Russian criminal organization, or any of a host of state
sponsored adversaries - you're as good as dead on the Internet.

We know that.
You telling us that isn't helpful after your first post.

It's like telling a parent that they're going to have to change diapers
when they have a baby. They know that. Why do you incessantly repeat what
everyone already knows?

It's like I'm asking what vaccines to give a baby and you keep repeating
that I have to change diapers on the baby. You're not being helpful.

The question you clearly don't know the answer to. That's fine.
You clearly know about man-in-the-middle attacks. That's fine.

Now can we please get back to the question?

Q: What free proxy have you found to be most usable in your experience?
....
Holy cow. Are you insane? We *know* everything you say.

It's like I ask what's the best diaper for my baby and you tell me that all
babies have to drink milk.

What is wrong with you?
Are you just trying to chalk up your Internet-post record?

The question is:
Q: What free proxy have you found to be most usable in your experience?

Do you really not comprehend that question?
....
There is something wrong with you in that you're no longer helpful by
telling us what we knew decades ago.

It's like I'm asking what's a good rental car and then repeatedly warn that
cars have tires which can go flat.

If you have no answer to the question below, please do not respond:
Q: What free proxy have you found to be most usable in your experience?

Well then I cannot answer your question. I do NOT study about nor
research things that I just cannot trust or understand. I can only warn
you about machine in the middle. My apology, Master! :)


--
@~@ Remain silent! Drink, Blink, Stretch! Live long and prosper!!
/ v \ Simplicity is Beauty!
/( _ )\ May the Force and farces be with you!
^ ^ (x86_64 Ubuntu 9.10) Linux 2.6.39.3
不借貸! 不詐騙! 不援交! 不打交! 不打劫! 不自殺! 請考慮綜援 (CSSA):
http://www.swd.gov.hk/tc/index/site_...sub_addressesa

A usable free proxy server for Windows users (emphasis on usable!)
 

On Sun, 24 Dec 2017 15:03:07 +0000 (UTC), Chaya Eve
wrote:

2. The kind that is set up in the browser for permanent use on all URLs.

Two more lists:
http://www.techradar.com/news/the-best-free-web-proxy
The best free web proxy 2017
By Cat Ellis June 14, 2017 Software

https://securitygladiators.com/10-be...e-web-proxies/
10 Best Free Web Proxies for Safe and Anonymous Surfing
Top 10 Proxies
Updated June 2016!

But they all seem to offer only a web page for access, no proxy
configuration data for your web browser.

Perhaps you are asking for the impossible, because there is no
business model for what you are looking for. Proxies need a lot of
bandwith and have to obey to law, both is expensive.

Offering a proxy over a web page makes ads possible. And selling VPN
services is a business, too. Offering a free web proxy with
configuration data makes no sense - who should pay for it?

Regards

M.

A usable free proxy server for Windows users (emphasis on usable!)
 

On Sat, 23 Dec 2017 15:47:11 +0000 (UTC), Chaya Eve wrote:
Q: What is a *usable* free proxy site that you *know* is usable?
(Emphasis on the two highlighted words above: You know it's usable.)

Aside from marketing tricks to get you to purchase something, and aside
from Tor/Opera (neither of which is a "proxy" per se) ... please respond
only if you happen to *use* the proxy you recommend, where I ask...

Q: What is a usable free proxy site that you *know* is usable?

HINT: You know there's a problem with too much data (most of which is
useless in the end) when there is no "top 5" or "top 10" but where the
number starts at the "top 110 free proxy servers".

Mosts are mere useless lists, just like the "free open nntp servers" lists
are.

So this question has the emphasis on two factors:
You (a) *know* that this proxy server is (b) *usable*.

Thanks (in advance) for helping everyone with your response!
[snip]

Since you ask for a free proxy *site*, which mean web based proxy (i.e. web
proxy), I'd say none which are reliable.

For non web proxy, I use Tor, I2P, and Toonel. I2P is similar to Tor with
more functionalities. Toonel is similar to common proxy servers and it's
designed for mobile use, so it's not fast but more reliable than standard
free proxy servers.

Those free standrad proxy servers listed on the net aren't reliable either.
They come and go pretty quickly and most of their speed is unstable.

A usable free proxy server for Windows users (emphasis on usable!)
 

On Sun, 24 Dec 2017 17:03:40 +0100, Michael Logies
wrote:

But they all seem to offer only a web page for access, no proxy
configuration data for your web browser.

Thank you for checking that out where I was just asking if folks already
had the experience - so I appreciate your kind largesse!

Perhaps you are asking for the impossible, because there is no
business model for what you are looking for. Proxies need a lot of
bandwith and have to obey to law, both is expensive.

It seems that you may be completely correct in that they all seem to be web
portals, which allows them to add advertisements.

So it may be that the *only* free proxy-configuration type is the Opera
model, which is configured by clicking on the "enable vpn" button in the
web browser settings.

That's a lesson in and of itself.

Offering a proxy over a web page makes ads possible. And selling VPN
services is a business, too. Offering a free web proxy with
configuration data makes no sense - who should pay for it?

I agree with you that the free proxy server configuration model does not
appear to exist (or we can't find it).

I guess I just figured that it would exist because that's what Tor is,
essentially, and what Opera uses, essentially - but they're special cases
of the configurable proxy situation.

So the question has kind of morphed, out of necessity, to one of whether a
configurable free proxy server setup outside of those two special cases
even exists.

A usable free proxy server for Windows users (emphasis on usable!)
 

On Mon, 25 Dec 2017 08:41:35 +0700, JJ wrote:

Since you ask for a free proxy *site*, which mean web based proxy (i.e. web
proxy), I'd say none which are reliable.

We found plenty of "web based proxy portals" but none that were
"configurable proxies" which weren't a single-page portal.

For non web proxy, I use Tor, I2P, and Toonel.

In general, Tor/privoxy/vidalia/etc. are hard to set up for a typical user.

The Tor Browser Bundle is a special case, where the trouble of setting it
up within a particular browser is done - but that only works for the
Firefox browser that is set up (usually a few revs back).

Likewise, Opera is already set up with a proxy; but I'm seeking a
configurable proxy setup for any browser.

As noted, this "configurable proxy" (or whatever it's called) may not exist
since all we can find are "web based portals" (which is something else
altogether).

I2P is similar to Tor with more functionalities.

Looking up I2P https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I2P, we can surmise that i2P
seems to fit the description in function, but not as a "proxy" per se.
https://thetinhat.com/tutorials/darknets/i2p.html

But I2P is interesting, so it deserves a better look:
https://thetinhat.com/tutorials/darknets/i2p.html

Hmmm. I2P seems to be a peer-to-peer connection of some sort.
I don't know anyone else on I2P (I never heard of it before) so I'm not
sure yet if it's useful.

Mainly I just want privacy on the net. That's all. I don't have a specific
web site or a specific person that I want to converse with. I just want
privacy on the net for my browsing sessions.

Toonel is similar to common proxy servers and it's
designed for mobile use, so it's not fast but more reliable than standard
free proxy servers.

I also never heard of "toonel" so I appreciate that suggestion.
Looking it up, http://toonel.net/qa.html Toonel seems to be aimed at
compression of your data.

I guess what you're saying is that an anonymity is introduced with the
compression scheme because of the fact that everything goes through the
Toonel servers? http://toonel.net/about.html

Those free standrad proxy servers listed on the net aren't reliable either.
They come and go pretty quickly and most of their speed is unstable.

We all have seen the same effect with the always-changing lists of free
NNTP public servers, remember way back when?

That's why I had asked for the best that people who have experience have
been using. So far nobody seems to use them - and yet - they abound.

Isn't that an enigma?
Why, if none of us are using them, do they seem to abound in the hundreds?

Who is using them if not people like us?

A usable free proxy server for Windows users (emphasis on usable!)
 

On Sun, 24 Dec 2017 17:03:40 +0100, Michael Logies
wrote:

http://www.techradar.com/news/the-best-free-web-proxy
The best free web proxy 2017
By Cat Ellis June 14, 2017 Software

Doing my homework, they list the following.
http://www.vpnbook.com/webproxy === this is a URL portal
https://www.hidemyass.com/proxy === this service is gone
http://www.kproxy.n.nu/ === this service appears to be gone
https://www.privoxy.org === this is likely what I asked for
https://www.filterbypass.me/ === this is a URL portal

Of those, the only one that *looks* like what I am asking about is privoxy,
but I'm not yet quite sure what privoxy actually does (despite reading the
FAQ at https://www.privoxy.org/faq/general.html.

But it does seem that Privoxy is what I was originally asking about, even
though I didn't realize it when I had asked.

I always thought privoxy was part of Tor but this says it's not:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privoxy

So maybe privoxy is what I want, if it has a set of free configurable
servers I can point to as the proxy servers.

Does it?

A usable free proxy server for Windows users (emphasis on usable!)
 

On Sun, 24 Dec 2017 17:03:40 +0100, Michael Logies
wrote:

https://securitygladiators.com/10-be...e-web-proxies/
10 Best Free Web Proxies for Safe and Anonymous Surfing
Top 10 Proxies
Updated June 2016!

Doing my homework for this site:
https://securitygladiators.com/10-best-free-web-proxies/

They list:
https://www.hidemyass.com/proxy === this service is gone
http://securefor.com === this is a URL portal
http://newipnow.com/ === this is a URL portal with an IP choice
https://hide.me/en/proxy === this is a URL portal
https://www.proxysite.com === this is a URL portal with an IP choice
http://anonymouse.org/anonwww.html === this is a URL portal
http://dontfilter.us === this is a URL portal
https://whoer.net/webproxy === this is a URL portal with an IP choice
http://www.blewpass.com === this is a URL portal with an IP choice
https://www.kproxy.com === this is a URL portal with an IP choice

A usable free proxy server for Windows users (emphasis on usable!)
 

On Sun, 24 Dec 2017 15:33:37 +0000, Andy Burns wrote:

Maybe the question should be "why do you expect a free, usable web proxy
to be available?"

For every person willing to open a proxy there must be thousands such as
yourself looking to eat up the bandwidth and power of the proxy server,
or put it on a list so that others can do the same.

The answer to your question is why does anyone here help someone else for
free?

Why do we help little old ladies cross the street?

Why do we ask tourists if they want their picture taken?

Why do we hand money to a beggar on the street?

Why does Tor exist? Why does Privoxy exist?

I'm not sure if I understand Privoxy - but it seems to be the only solution
to the problem so far.

https://www.privoxy.org/user-manual/quickstart.html

A usable free proxy server for Windows users (emphasis on usable!)
 

In message , Chaya Eve
writes:
[]
Mainly I just want privacy on the net. That's all. I don't have a specific
web site or a specific person that I want to converse with. I just want
privacy on the net for my browsing sessions.
[]
Basically, why - other than a general objection to being tracked and
similar? I, and most here I suspect, would rather not be tracked, have
my info. gathered (e. g. browsing and purchasing habits), and so on -
but we all have various levels of tolerance of what we'll accept for the
sake of convenience and free information.

Other than "all of the following", are there any of the following you're
more or less concerned about:

o owners of websites knowing your identity (various interpretations,
from name to credit card details) when you visit them

o third-party entities (search engines, ISPs, VPN/proxy operators, ...)
knowing where you visit

o second or third party entities knowing what you buy, either on their
own site (probably impossible to stop them collecting that!), or on
other sites

o anything else

(Not that I have _any_ answer to your question, but knowing which
aspects _you_ are concerned about - and their order of importance -
might help those who _can_ answer, and even help _you_ to decide
[/evaluate responses if any].)
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

As we journey through life, discarding baggage along the way, we should keep
an iron grip, to the very end, on the capacity for silliness. It preserves the
soul from desiccation. - Humphrey Lyttelton quoted by Barry Cryer in Radio
Times 10-16 November 2012

A usable free proxy server for Windows users (emphasis on usable!)
 

On Mon, 25 Dec 2017 06:38:56 +0000 (UTC), Chaya Eve wrote:

Of those, the only one that *looks* like what I am asking about is
privoxy, but I'm not yet quite sure what privoxy actually does
(despite reading the FAQ at https://www.privoxy.org/faq/general.html.

From what I remember from using it a while ago, it resides on your
machine (or on your LAN) so it won't hide your IP address if that's
important to you.

It's good at ad-blocking, but then so is Firefox (AdBlock) and
Opera.

A usable free proxy server for Windows users (emphasis onusable!)
 

On 12/24/2017 9:33 AM, Andy Burns wrote:
Chaya Eve wrote:

Now can we please get back to the question?

Maybe the question should be "why do you expect a free, usable web proxy
to be available?"

For every person willing to open a proxy there must be thousands such as
yourself looking to eat up the bandwidth and power of the proxy server,
or put it on a list so that others can do the same.



No free lunch

A usable free proxy server for Windows users (emphasis on usable!)
 

On Mon, 25 Dec 2017 18:12:11 +0000, mechanic wrote:

Of those, the only one that *looks* like what I am asking about is
privoxy, but I'm not yet quite sure what privoxy actually does
(despite reading the FAQ at https://www.privoxy.org/faq/general.html.

From what I remember from using it a while ago, it resides on your
machine (or on your LAN) so it won't hide your IP address if that's
important to you.

It's good at ad-blocking, but then so is Firefox (AdBlock) and
Opera.

Thank you for answering what Privoxy does, as I was reading it and I was
confused.

Many years ago, before the Tor Browser Bundle existed, I tried to set up
Firefox with Vidalia and Privoxy and Tor and it was a mess so I gave up,
unsuccessful. That was my only experience with Privoxy, so I thought it had
something to do with Tor.

When I look up the simplest things about Privoxy, I can't get a simple
description of it. https://duckduckgo.com/?q=what+is+privoxy

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privoxy
"Privoxy is a "privacy enhancing proxy", filtering web pages and removing
advertisements."

So it's just a filter, but the MVP Hosts file is likely a better filter.
http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.htm

That means privoxy is not what I was asking about, and all the other URLs
we found were all web page portals.

So it may be that there are no existing free proxy settings to be found.

A usable free proxy server for Windows users (emphasis on usable!)
 

On Mon, 25 Dec 2017 16:11:59 -0600, Rene Lamontagne
wrote:

No free lunch

Not true. That's a platitude spoken by people who are greedy.

I have *often* helped people without asking for anything in return.

Sometimes, I don't even ask for a smile in return, or a thank you.

I do it out of the goodness of my heart.

A usable free proxy server for Windows users (emphasis on usable!)
 

On Mon, 25 Dec 2017 10:40:47 +0000, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
wrote:

Basically, why - other than a general objection to being tracked and
similar?

I want privacy just like everyone else wants privacy.

Why do you brush your teeth every day? Didn't you just brush them this
morning?
Why do you wash your hands every day? Didn't you just wash them yesterday?=
Why do you close the bathroom door? What are you hiding?
Why do they have a "wait here" line at the pharmacy?
Why do you close your bedroom window blinds at night? Are you hiding
something?
etc

I, and most here I suspect, would rather not be tracked, have
my info. gathered (e. g. browsing and purchasing habits), and so on -
but we all have various levels of tolerance of what we'll accept for the
sake of convenience and free information.

Of course we all practice privacy every day. When you tell someone at a
party that their zipper is down, you often whisper it - right? You don't
yell out to them so that everyone can hear you.

When you go to the doctor to have a wart removed from your butt, the doctor
closes the door to the room, right?

When you call up to ask a product question and they ask you for all your
identification questions, you either ask why they need it just to answer a
question - or you do like I do - and give them bogus information.

When you buy a trinket at the local toy store and they ask for your phone
number, do you actually give them your *real* phone number? I don't.

They don't need my phone number to sell me that trinket.

Other than "all of the following", are there any of the following you're
more or less concerned about.

Privacy is like pulling up your zipper.
You do it all the time out of habit.

o owners of websites knowing your identity (various interpretations,
from name to credit card details) when you visit them

I never use a credit card on the web. Never. If I must buy something, I use
the telephone. And I never log in with my real name. Nor from my home ISP.
I am on a rotating VPN 100% of the time. Even now. It's just a habit, like
pulling up a zipper on a pair of pants or a skirt.

o third-party entities (search engines, ISPs, VPN/proxy operators, ...)
knowing where you visit

I use Duckduckgo and never use Google. I use the MVP Hosts file to block
all the doubleclick-like tracking. I clear every browser with every session
either automatically or by having the start page be the browser clearance.
Chrome Start Page: chrome://settings/clearBrowserData

o second or third party entities knowing what you buy, either on their
own site (probably impossible to stop them collecting that!), or on
other sites

I have all third-party cookies turned off and I would turn off cookies and
scripting if it were pragmatic - but it's not. So I clear cookies on all
browsers that will do it automatically upon exiting or upon opening.

o anything else

Basic privacy 101. I use a different browser for each web page.
So, for example, if I go to Forums.whatever.com, then that browser is
*only* for that web page.

If I then want to go to whatever.forums.com, then I use a different browser
for that.

Each web page I visit gets its own browser.

There is never any cross contamination except for my duckduckgo browser,
which, by necessity, has to run the searches and then I use a separate
browser (generally the Tor Browser Bundle) to check out the results of
those searches.

This is basic privacy practice that you just get used to if you set up
Windows with links. Links make it all easily possible (aka shortcuts).

(Not that I have _any_ answer to your question, but knowing which
aspects _you_ are concerned about - and their order of importance -
might help those who _can_ answer, and even help _you_ to decide
[/evaluate responses if any].)

All I care is about basic privacy 101 on the net.
Basic stuff that is easy on Windows since it's all done with shortcuts.

A usable free proxy server for Windows users (emphasis onusable!)
 

Chaya Eve wrote:

maybe privoxy is what I want, if it has a set of free configurable
servers I can point to as the proxy servers.

Does it?

I have used privoxy in the past, it lets *you* install your own proxy
server, AFAIK they don't provide proxy servers, though of course some
people may use privoxy to provide freely available proxies.

A usable free proxy server for Windows users (emphasis on usable!)
 

On Thu, 28 Dec 2017 10:03:24 +0000, Andy Burns wrote:

I have used privoxy in the past, it lets *you* install your own proxy
server, AFAIK they don't provide proxy servers, though of course some
people may use privoxy to provide freely available proxies.

Thanks. I gave up on the task and went back to Opera because Opera seems to
be the *only* freely available public proxy server that passes *all* URLs
through the proxy.

All the rest, as noted, appear to be web portals only.

http://anonymouse.org/anonwww.html
http://dontfilter.us
http://kproxy.com/
http://newipnow.com/
http://securefor.com
http://www.blewpass.com
http://www.vpnbook.com/webproxy
https://hide.me/en/proxy
https://hide.me/en/proxy
https://hidester.com/proxy/
https://whoer.net/webproxy
https://whoer.net/webproxy
https://www.filterbypass.me/
https://www.kproxy.com
https://www.megaproxy.com/freesurf/
https://www.proxysite.com
https://www.proxysite.com
https://www.vpnbook.com/webproxy
https://zend2.com
etc.

A usable free proxy server for Windows users (emphasis on usable!)
 

Chaya Eve
Sat, 23 Dec 2017 15:47:11 GMT in
alt.windows7.general, wrote:

Q: What is a usable free proxy site that you *know* is usable?

I know of several of them. I obtain and test them with sites like
this:

http://www.proxy4free.com

From there, you should be able to find one that you can configure
your browser to use.

So this question has the emphasis on two factors:
You (a) *know* that this proxy server is (b) *usable*.

I know what your factors are, but, I'm not going to hold your hand
for you on this one. You can do somethings for yourself. Besides, a
proxy I use today could very well be history tomorrow; as is the
nature of free and open proxies and that won't do you much/any good.

Before you tell me it's easy to find a good one, you should see
what a search reveals - they are just lists of lists - where
nobody has the time to test them out - so I only ask someone who
*already* has a good *usable* free proxy server to recommend.

Some of those lists are quite useful and it only takes seconds in
most cases to configure your browser to test one of the proxies
listed. It's not rocket science.

http://www.idcloak.com/proxylist/fre...vers-list.html
https://www.proxynova.com/proxy-server-list/country-us/
https://nordvpn.com/free-proxy-list/
http://www.publicproxyservers.com
http://www.proxy4free.com/list/webproxy1.html
https://www.alltechbuzz.net/top-best...-servers-2016/
http://www.proxy4free.com

I've had prior experience with most of those lists and although I ran
into an occasional dead proxy on the lists, most of the time, I
scored. Nordvpn btw, is awesome. But it's more than just a proxy,
it's an actual vpn. They were offering a free trial and might still
be for a few days. Might be worth checking out. During my free trial,
I was even able to torrent (with decent speeds) without issue. And I
didn't need to install any custom software to do it.


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A usable free proxy server for Windows users (emphasis on usable!)
 

On Fri, 29 Dec 2017 05:53:29 -0000 (UTC), Diesel wrote:

I know of several of them. I obtain and test them with sites like
this:
http://www.proxy4free.com

Thank you for that list of lists of lists of lists of lists.

I had already tested those, all of which all instantly and miserably failed
the clear criteria that Michael Logies , mechanic
, Andy Burns , and JJ
and I were discussing.

That entire page is just a marketing gimmick for *one* site!

Supposedly "top rated" proxies:
http://franceproxy.pw (portal with options for encrption, cookies, scripts)
http://11proxy.pw (same site, literally, as the 1st in the list above)
http://europroxy.pw (same site, literally, as the 1st in the list above)
http://proxyzan.info (same site, literally, as the 1st in the list above)
http://myproxysite.ga (same site, literally, as the 1st in the list above)
http://proxyeuro.pw (same site, literally, as the 1st in the list above)
http://9proxy.space (same site, literally, as the 1st in the list above)
http://ourwebproxy.ml (same site, literally, as the 1st in the list above)
http://unblockwebs.cf (same site, literally, as the 1st in the list above)
http://applepieproxy.xyz (this is the 1st different one but still a portal)
http://shinyproxy.eu (portal - but at least a different one still)
http://otlp.xyz (same site, literally, as the 1st in the list above)
http://789proxy.cf (same site, literally, as the 1st in the list above)
http://dacd.win (same site, literally, as the 1st in the list above)
http://bvpn.win (same site, literally, as the 1st in the list above)
etc.

You fell for a cheap marketing gimmick.

Which was my point from the start - that there are no good "lists" of lists
when it comes to proxy servers.

Worse, there appear to be zero "configuration" proxies.
At least if there are, nobody has listed a single one yet.

From there, you should be able to find one that you can configure
your browser to use.

You fell for the classic trick that the OP was written to avoid.
Every site on the page you referenced is a 'web portal' proxy.
Worse, the page you referenced is just a cheap marketing gimmick for a
single proxy portal site.

I know what your factors are, but, I'm not going to hold your hand
for you on this one. You can do somethings for yourself. Besides, a
proxy I use today could very well be history tomorrow; as is the
nature of free and open proxies and that won't do you much/any good.

You don't actually know because the web site you referenced is nothing but
an obvious blatant cheap marketnig trick for a single proxy portal site.

Some of those lists are quite useful and it only takes seconds in
most cases to configure your browser to test one of the proxies
listed. It's not rocket science.

You don't seem to understand what Michael Logies ,
mechanic , Andy Burns , and JJ
and I were discussing.

I never wanted what we're calling a 'web portal proxy'.
I wanted what we're calling a 'configuration proxy'.

Sort of like what Opera or Tor Browser Bundle do by configuration.
Only for any browser.

I've had prior experience with most of those lists and although I ran
into an occasional dead proxy on the lists, most of the time, I
scored.

It's trivial to 'score' a web-portal proxy.

There are litterally hundreds upon hundreds of different URLs, many of
which, as your own suggested site shows, are really the same outfit under
the guise of a different proxy.

So far, it has been impossible to score a configuration proxy.
I've already concluded as much from all the kind help in this thread.

I'll change my mind if one pops up, but so far, none have.
And I've run as many searches as anyone has.

Which is why I asked the question in the first place.

Nordvpn btw, is awesome. But it's more than just a proxy,
it's an actual vpn. They were offering a free trial and might still
be for a few days. Might be worth checking out. During my free trial,
I was even able to torrent (with decent speeds) without issue. And I
didn't need to install any custom software to do it.

As stated in the body of the OP, a VPN and Tor are completely different
things from a web proxy.

And as stated in the bodies of the thread, what we're calling a
"configuration proxy" is also a completely different thing than a mere
"portal proxy".

We all have lists upon lists upon lists upon lists with a 'portal proxy'.
Nobody seems to have found a single 'configuration proxy' yet.

This thread will be successfully answered if a single free configuration
proxy even exists on the net. Maybe it doesn't exist. It sure seems like it
doesn't exist based on what Michael, Andy, JJ, and I can find.

A usable free proxy server for Windows users (emphasis onusable!)
 

Chaya Eve wrote:

This thread will be successfully answered if a single free configuration
proxy even exists on the net.

Squid is another piece of proxy server software, here's a list of public
servers using it

https://squidproxyserver.com

I haven't tried any of them, so don't know if they're considered usable

A usable free proxy server for Windows users (emphasis on usable!)
 

On Fri, 29 Dec 2017 16:24:24 +0000, Andy Burns wrote:

This thread will be successfully answered if a single free configuration
proxy even exists on the net.

Squid is another piece of proxy server software, here's a list of public
servers using it

https://squidproxyserver.com

I haven't tried any of them, so don't know if they're considered usable

Thanks Andy for the suggestion of "squid proxy server", as I knew my
question was a difficult one, and I learned (after I started the thread)
that most people don't even understand the question.

Most who do are using "web portal" proxies and not what we're calling
"configuration proxies".

Absolutely none, save for the one who "claimed" to be using them easily,
are using what we call "configuration proxies".

Hence, it's easy to discount the claims of "diesel" and just move on
assuming nobody here has a "configuration proxy" working yet.

That's ok - as I never expect the answer to my questions to be known by any
other than actual experts and certainly never by people who don't
understand the questions asked.

Looking at your helpful suggestion...

The web page for https://squidproxyserver.com is interesting in that their
claim for fame appears to be that they cache frequently used web pages for
speed reasons.

They argue you gain speed using a Squid Proxy because you only have to
traverse from you to the squid proxy after the first time.

They seem to be targeting VPN and SSH users, which is strange since every
user should benefit from having a local web cache, don't you think?

I'm not sure how to "set it up" as a configuration proxy though, but here's
the United States data:
IP = 67.205.162.180
SquidPort = 80, 3128
Protocol = HTTP SSH, VPN
Server = United States
Location = United States
Proxy Provider = MyTunneling

I'm guessing at the moment that the "cache" is stored on that server
67.205.162.180 - but the Wikipedia seems to infer the cache is stored on
your local network (so I'm still a bit confused).

However, this whole "squid proxy" concept is completely new to me, so I
appreciate that you brought it up. This post is just a "thank you" for
bringing it up, because I need to see what it is and what it does.

From my first skim of Wikipedia shows it is a "configuration proxy" of
sorts ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squid_(software)

This is the caching server part:
1. You install a squid proxy server on your local desktop
2. You configure your web browser to use this squid proxy server
3. Everything you request is cached on your local desktop

None of that has anything to do with anonymizing things (such as header
information) but apparently Squid Proxy Server has a few switches that help
your anonymity.

Unfortunately, Windows does not seem to be a supported Operating System! :(

But, from what I'm gathering, what you're suggesting, is that someone else
has already gone to the trouble to create a Squid Proxy Server, which you
can configure your web browser to use instead of your local server.

I don't inherently see how to set up my browser to use this
"http://mytunneling.com" server at 67.205.162.180 so that's where I'm
puzzled as to the next step.

A usable free proxy server for Windows users (emphasis on usable!)
 

Chaya Eve
Fri, 29 Dec 2017 21:57:42 GMT in
alt.windows7.general, wrote:

On Fri, 29 Dec 2017 16:24:24 +0000, Andy Burns
wrote:

This thread will be successfully answered if a single free
configuration proxy even exists on the net.

Squid is another piece of proxy server software, here's a list of
public servers using it

https://squidproxyserver.com

I haven't tried any of them, so don't know if they're considered
usable

Thanks Andy for the suggestion of "squid proxy server", as I knew
my question was a difficult one, and I learned (after I started
the thread) that most people don't even understand the question.

I understood your question fine. You don't want a web portal, you
want a real proxy. Done deal. Don't assume others don't know what
they're writing about in the future, unless you like the idea of
being proven wrong.

http://freeproxylists.net/


that's a list of working, FREE REAL PROXIES; not web portals; didn't
take long to find. See the IP address and port information to the
left? That's what you configure your browser to use under your
network/proxy settings. Make sure your browser is told to use the
proxy for all protocols. It's a box I have to tick in firefox, your
opera experience may vary slightly there.

IP: 95.143.139.149
port: 52136

that's a NON US http support ONLY real bonafied PROXY. As of jan 1st,
8pm est time, is working, too.

Configure your browser to use it, and point your happy ass here to
confirm it's working:

http://whatismyip.org/

You'll get the PROXIES IP on your screen, not your own. As, that's
the whole ****ing point. That is, if you understand what a proxy does
and actually understand what you asked for. What you incorrectly call
a 'configuration proxy'

Hence, it's easy to discount the claims of "diesel" and just move
on assuming nobody here has a "configuration proxy" working yet.

Is it now? Discount what I wrote above. Should be highly
entertaining. :)

That's ok - as I never expect the answer to my questions to be
known by any other than actual experts and certainly never by
people who don't understand the questions asked.

You won't get any further help from me. I'm satisified knowing I just
not only proved you wrong, but, that I do know wtf i'm writing about.
With the above, useful, real proxy list and working 'configuration'
proxy. it's an http/https (not web portal) proxy, btw. the actual
term(s) for it/them. there's also other types of proxies, socks4,
socks5, etc. If you were semi okay with a search engine, you could
have found that site without much hassle. You need to work on your
queries for the search engines. They're obviously lacking. And your
attitude towards people offering you assistance needs a bit of work
too. You're evidently used to dealing with people less knowledgeable
than yourself, but, I'm *not* one of those people. Have a good new
year!




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